Demo seeks bipartisan redistricting commission

An independent, bipartisan commission could address perceived abuses of redistricting, but it could also present new problems to fix a process that is not broken.

The necessity of such a commission was the focus of a panel discussion this past week at the Hinckley Institute of Politics on the University of Utah campus. The panel, which included two Utah legislators, also looked at the standards that should be applied to redistricting — the post-census process of redrawing legislative and congressional voting districts to account for population changes.

Creating such a commission would pose practical problems for membership, since all members would probably have a political agenda, and cost the state more money, Sen. Michael Waddoups, R-Taylorsville, said. More importantly, it would also attempt to solve a problem — specifically gerrymandering, in which districts are drawn to protect incumbents, reduce the influence of groups, or weaken the minority political party — that "may exist in Texas or Georgia, but not in Utah."

As proof, Waddoups pointed to last year's redistricting committee for a fourth congressional seat. In drawing the eventually proposed map, multiple public hearings were held around the state and the committee of legislators made sure to equally balance the population of each district.

"That was a political process, but it was done in the open and with public input," Waddoups said.

Rep. Roz McGee, D-Salt Lake, said that despite assertions otherwise, redistricting is a problem in Utah that can only be addressed by an independent, bipartisan commission. Without it, voters will continue to grow frustrated and apathetic as they watch their ability to select their elected officials wane.

McGee annually files a bill that would create such a commission, although it has never received much support from GOP legislators. This year, the bill did not even get a committee hearing.

"I want a system where voters select their representatives, not where representatives choose their voters," she said. "That is why we need a commission that is removed from the Legislature."

Such a commission is something that the Hinckley Institute has advocated, executive director Kirk Jowers said, although it recommend a nationwide commission. While Utah's process is controlled by Republicans, in other states Democrats have used the process to their full advantage.

The best thing a commission could do is provide an initial map for legislators to debate, even if the lawmakers are given the final decision. Their map would ideally adhere to standards, such as balanced population and the retention of common communities, cities or areas, that were established before the commission began meeting.

"The nice thing an independent commission can do is come in and draw a map that has no master besides the standards," he said. "If you have that initial map, it would make mischief much more difficult."

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